Featured Image Credit: Carrie Hanrahan / Peter Silverman / Alamy Stock Photo
Topics: US News
Shola Lee
Topics: US News
There are two hidden secrets in the Lincoln Memorial that'll blow your mind.
Grab a cuppa and get ready to delve into the secrets behind the world's most famous memorial, which celebrated its centennial anniversary on 30 May this year.
Designed by architect Henry Bacon in 1922, the Lincoln Memorial pays tribute to one of America's most famous presidents, Abraham Lincoln.
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As millions (7.8 million, to be exact) pour in every year to see Honest Abe's likeness, many miss the secrets hidden around the site.
First up? A secret underground cavern was built below the memorial, known as the undercroft.
Like something out of James Bond, there's a hidden 15,000-square-foot basement below the memorial. Known as the undercroft, the space was built to provide a sturdy foundation for the memorial, which sits above.
It was closed to the public for years but as part of the memorial's centennial celebrations, the area is set to re-open, with the National Park Service saying: "The purpose of this project is to rehabilitate the Lincoln Memorial for its centennial in 2022. This project will include the rehabilitation of the undercroft portion of the Lincoln Memorial and improving existing visitor services on the mezzanine level, including expanded restrooms, improved accessibility, expanded visitor interpretation spaces, and expanded NPS support and service spaces."
So, soon, you'll be able to dart around underneath the world-famous memorial.
Next up on the landmark's hidden secrets, is a spelling mistake – before you roll your eyes, it's way funnier than it sounds.
For those of you that are into American history, you'll know that two of Lincoln's most famous speeches are inscribed on either side of the statue.
In the South Chamber, the memorial is Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, which he delivered on 19 November 1863, and is perhaps best known for Lincoln's beginning, "Fourscore and seven years ago."
And In the North Chamber is Lincoln's second inaugural address, which he gave on 4 March 1865, one month before the end of the civil war.
It's in the North Chamber that the remnants of a rather hilariously misspelled word can be seen.
During his speech, Lincoln says: "With high hope for the future, no prediction with regard to it is ventured. On the occasion corresponding to this four years ago, all thoughts were anxiously directed to an impending civil war."
And, in the original stone carving of the memorial the word 'future' is misspelled.
The 'F' was accidentally written as an 'E', making the memorial read 'With high hope for the Euture,' which doesn't exactly fill you with confidence.
While the mistake is pretty hilarious, don't go racing to see it, the letter has since been filled in to make it look like an 'F'. You can still see trace marks of the mistake, though.